Australian surfer Mick Fanning has claimed his second world title in
barrelling waves at Pipeline, Hawaii.

The world title race had gone down to the wire at the last event of the 2009 ASP World Tour season with both Fanning and his childhood friend Joel Parkinson, 28, inches from glory.

However, while Fanning, 28, won his Round 3 heat against Torrey Meister, Parkinson’s title dreams were shattered as he lost his to Hawaiian wild card Gavin Gillette.

Although Fanning was knocked out by fellow Australian Dean Morrison in Round 4, his points lead from winning three of the last four events was enough to secure victory.

The events capped a thrilling day at the famous reef break on Oahu’s North Shore as the world’s best surfers unleashed an incendiary performance in hollow 6-8ft surf.

Highlights included former nine times world champion Kelly Slater, 37, posting a score of 19.33 out of a possible 20 in his Round 3 demolition of Hawaiian Hank Gaskell. The Floridian put himself on track for an unprecedented seventh Pipe Masters title as he secured a 17.10 Round 4 total over Fred Patacchia to advance to the quarter finals.

C J Hobgood, 30, also showed stunning form as he collected a Perfect 10-point ride to dismiss Shane Dorian in Round 3.

Fanning’s victory comes as a blow to Parkinson who had looked to be mounting an unstoppable charge to clinch his first world title earlier in the season. He won three of the first five events but an ankle injury he sustained while training in Bali saw the Australian’s lead dwindle before being overtaken by Fanning.

It was the first time since 2003 that the title race has come down to the final event.

Claiming victory on Saturday, Fanning, who also won the world title in 2007, said: “I’m just a bit overwhelmed right now and I don't quite know what to say.

“This title is way more fun. I was much more relaxed for this one, but the last few days, I was really nervous.

“I knew I was surfing well. It was just a matter of getting that result. I knew it was going to turn around sooner or later.”

Reflecting on Fanning’s victory, Slater, who won last year, said: “I think Mick’s title win today was great.

“Talk about a dominant start with Parko (Parkinson) and talk about a more dominant finish with Fanning. He’s been winning everything towards the end of the year.

“That was really a great see-saw battle. To have it stolen from under you like Joel did, it’s got to be pretty disheartening for Joel right now.

“It was one of those years where we thought it was going to be boring because Joel was on fire and Mick came back.”

With the 2009 ASP World Title already sealed, several are looking ahead to next season where Slater remains one of the primary candidates for the 2010 crown.

“I don’t know if being out of this year’s title race motivates me for next year,” Slater said. “I think to start this year I wasn’t really motivated. I think I felt a lot of pressure and maybe I didn’t put myself in the game early on. It really has been my year to experiment with equipment and trying to take my surfing in a way that feels better. I did a lot of work on that.”